by Derek Reveron
WHAT’S HAPPENING
A major tour operator is launching a Spanish-language website aimed at Latinos in the U.S. and abroad.
The web site of New Jersey-based City Tours USA bills itself as “El Tour Operador que habla su idioma” (“The Tour Operator that speaks your language”). At the site, customers can browse the company’s services, view [...]
by Hans Eisenbeis
WHAT’S HAPPENING
As autumn 2008 arrives, the credit and housing crises are still on the boil. But a third major financial crisis is simmering as well: the cost of healthcare and health insurance continues to climb. A survey by Aon Consulting Worldwide finds that U.S. actuaries expect the cost of healthcare to increase 10.6% [...]
by Corinne Asturias
Love her, hate her, on-the-fence about her, Sarah Palin can’t be ignored. Karl Rove snagged our attention when he described the Republican vice presidential pick as a “campaign” decision versus a “governing” decision (WashingtonPost.com 8.2.08). In our world, that’s code for: going after a highly desirable specific demographic target.
In what respect, you ask? [...]
by Janie Diaz
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Saving the environment, the importance of going to college, politics and religion are staple topics of talk shows. But what if the hosts were a couple of animated Latinos with an affinity for mockery and vulgarity?
Caesar & Chuy, broadcast on LATV, showcases animated characters that touch on serious Latino-related issues in ribald [...]
OBSERVATION
by Hans Eisenbeis
WHAT’S HAPPENING
The well-to-do are feeling the pinch of the current economic downturn, and they’re changing their spending habits just as surely as the middle and lower classes. And since the top 10% are responsible for 25% of the spending in our consumer-driven economy, a slowdown at the top really puts the brakes on [...]
OBSERVATION
by Nissa Hanna
WHAT’S HAPPENING
With rising food prices and a sinking economy, grocery stores are battling for budget shoppers by showcasing their sweet money saving skills.
At Stop & Shop’s “Affordable Food Summits,” local politicians and economists enlighten shoppers with insights on edible savings. Consumers have been responding well, so the program is expanding to more stores [...]
OBSERVATION
by Stefania Revelli
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Double edge razors, cut throat razors, three blades, four blades, shaving brushes … male personal care can be a complicated maze. As more gents embrace their full grooming potential, online information centers and male beauty blogs abound.
The Grooming Guys use a tongue-in-cheek tone to promote grooming as a full on lifestyle. First [...]
OBSERVATION
by Abelardo de la Peña Jr.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Jennifer Lopez isn’t the only Latina training as a triathlete. Latinas are supporting each other’s athletic efforts through Las Hermanas triathlon team.
Noticing the dearth of Latinas at the starting or finishing lines of triathlons she participated in, Denise Perez of Denver, Colo. formed Las Hermanas (the sisters) triathlon team, [...]
OBSERVATION
by Hillary Smith
WHAT’S HAPPENING
There are people out there who just don’t care. Or so it would seem, given the results of a new Mintel study which states that 10% of the U.S. population are skeptical, irritated and unmoved by environmental media (BrandWeek.com 7.22.08).
And there could be more. According to Shelton Group, 26% of the population [...]
OBSERVATION
by Grace Jidoun
WHAT’S HAPPENING
The people have spoken, and they want a sustainable, vegetarian/raw foods restaurant. Restaurant-to-be Elements is the first to crowdsource its theme and menu (Washington Post 7.26.08).
The “crowd” (about 400 strong) is comprised of a random group of people who offer opinions on everything from the look to the logo on a community [...]
OBSERVATION
by Cree McCree
WHAT’S HAPPENING
American kids get sluggish when they hit their teens, a major new study found. While 9-year-olds average three hours a day of moderate-to-vigorous exercise, 15-year-olds average less than the minimum hour the government recommends (AP 7.15.08).
The study, published in JAMA (7.16.08), tracked a demographically-mixed group of 1,000 U.S. children from 2000 to [...]
by Josh Kimball
It’s the season for nation-sized get-togethers. The Beijing Olympics, of course, crackled to life with a blinding display of LEDs weeks ago. Here in the States, the Democratic and Republican national conventions usually stage smaller spectacles, but they still pull together jumbo throngs under the jumbotrons. This past week’s events have been unusual, [...]
OBSERVATION
by Derek Reveron
WHAT’S HAPPENING
More than seven million Latino adults in the U.S., or 27%, have no personal doctor, hampering their ability to detect diseases early (MedPageToday.com 8.14.08)
Spanish-dominant Latinos were 32% less likely than English-dominant Latinos to have a personal doctor, according to a survey by the Pew Hispanic Center and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. [...]
OBSERVATION
by Katie Anderson
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Red wine may cause a healthy buzz, but the hangover is totally not cool. That’s where Embodi comes in. The juice drink promises all the health benefits of red wine in a booze-free format.
Embodi works because it’s made from the same raw ingredients as its boozy cousin: grape juice and red wine [...]
OBSERVATION
by Hans Eisenbeis
WHAT’S HAPPENING
We’ve watched as tattooing, bodypiercing and other fleshmods have exploded in the past 10 years. But now many of those freshly inked and pierced folks are having regrets (LATimesBlogs.LATimes.com 7.21.08).
According to the Archives of Dermotology, 25% of 18 to 30 year olds have tattoos, and that number is expected to rise as [...]
